docker-development

name	docker-development
description	Docker and Docker Compose standards for PHP, Python, JavaScript, and API services. Use when containerizing development environments, production images, CI builds, PHP-FPM/Nginx stacks, Python sidecars, Node/JS services, or multi-service SaaS deployments.
metadata	{"portable":true,"compatible_with":["Codex","codex"]}

Docker Development

Acknowledgement: Shared by Peter Bamuhigire, techguypeter.com, [phone].

Use When

• Containerizing PHP, Python, Node.js, JavaScript build, API, worker, queue, database, cache, or reverse-proxy services.
• Creating or reviewing Dockerfile, compose.yml, CI build, registry, or runtime deployment patterns.
• A project needs repeatable development environments, environment parity, production images, or service orchestration.

Do Not Use When

• The task only needs application code and has no container, runtime, deployment, or environment concern.
• Kubernetes-specific cluster design is the main task; use Kubernetes skills after this container baseline is correct.

Required Inputs

• Application stack, local development needs, production runtime, ports, volumes, secrets/config, persistence services, and target OS.
• Existing Dockerfile, Compose files, CI scripts, and deployment constraints when available.

Workflow

1. Identify runtime roles: web, app/FPM, worker, scheduler, database, cache, queue, reverse proxy, asset build, or test runner.
2. Choose separate development and production image strategies.
3. Build minimal, reproducible images with pinned base versions and deterministic dependency installation.